In looking over my list of rhizomes this year, I've noticed a pattern of sorts, and I have many irises that are very similar looking, which says that I am drawn to that type/style/color pattern of those particular iris. For example, I have a lot of Reds::
* Solid Mahogany
* Ida Red
* Indian Chief
* Rosy Wings
* Dauntless
* Tickfaw (LA)
* Red Echo (LA)
* Caliente
* Maroon Damask
* The Red Douglas

Does anyone else find themselves drawn to a particular color of Iris? I also seem to have a lot of "Purples" this year.

I kinda find my self drawn to the purples (solid colored ones), blues, and some reds. Most of them regardless of color are bearded irises and historicals. Also they all basically have the same or pretty similar leave pattern.

I have years where I ordered mostly plicatas, or I find that I'm lacking a certain color, and I go overboard buying that color. Then I want lacy ones, then I want ruffly ones, then I need more selfs, pinks, whites, or reds. It's a crazy cycle for me.

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. - Alexander the Great

I just found that I was attracted to Historics, and to the ones like "Dauntless" and "Indian Chief" and "Alcazar" and "Rameses", and "Quaker Lady". Then I began really wanting Brown Iris, like
"Brown Turban" and "Argus Pheasant" and "Bryce Canyon". I think now I have all the ones I want,
and all I will really have to do is just replace the ones I'm going to plant if they don't perform, but
I'll end up ordering the same Iris all over again. Yeah, it's crazy !

For me it was the dwarfs. They come in more colors than the larger irises and the blooms come in all sizes. I have a little less than four hundred of them now so I feel like I can slow down a bit. Last year I became enthralled with luminatas and I want to collect enough to fill a luminata bed..... about a dozen or so not counting dwarf luminatas. I love pinks but true blues just call my name. This last spring for the first time I started looking at the lack of orange irises I grow and noticing the ones that bloomed and really want some more. sigh.....

What I really, really want now, besides my ever wishing for a turquoise TB, is a blue with a pink beard.

Standard Dwarf Bearded irises I call dwarfs. They are classed as medians and the MTB's (miniature dwarf bearded) are classed as dwarfs. I have about 30 MTB's but they require potting and extra care due to my climate. It is too hot here for most of them to thrive and not cold enough during the winter. However, the SDB's, nine to sixteen inches tall, require the same growing conditions as any other bearded iris and seem to be able to tolerate more shade and more water than the big boys do. I really, really like the 'little guys'.

Thanks for the clarification. I do have one "dwarf" planted on my property. It has probably been there long before I bought the home. It is a species Iris germanica. It is quite lovely. My Avatar is a photo of it this year when it was in bloom.

MTBs are also medians as are IBs & BBs. The SDBs are our favorites as well. John's grandmother grew them, but they were the pre pumila XTB type. Now known as I. lutesens they are more limited in color.

I think I followed Rob's pattern too well this year!!! I never had any pinks but now I have several, I also have more whites. I ordered more browns last year while this year I appear to have many reds and creams, though lots of brown medians. I did not order many purple. I ended up with several last year but I am attracted to other colors more than purple.

No, I don't want everything I don't have ..... there are a lot of Iris I definitely DON'T want. I'll leave it at that. I have exactly the iris I want, and my Wish List is now down to only 5. As for "Purples", Yes, I have to many of those. What I don't have is a YELLOW Iris. I posted something on one of the threads
asking for assistance with getting a good YELLOW Iris, but I didn't get the response I was hoping for,
so I will continue to look for that elusive Yellow and see which one pokes my interest for next year.

How Short is Short for a TB Iris ? I so dislike TB Irises that are Short. I do like my nice and Tall Irises!
I think 'Ola Kala' is a darker, deeper Yellow than 'Coronation'. I'm thinking that I'm more attracted to
a lighter yellow. 'Ola Kala' may be to bold. Like 'Southland' which is really deep and dark Yellow.
My favorite yellow, which is on my Wish List, is "Mystic Melody".